Inspection Detail

Note: The following inspection has not been indicated as closed. OSHA citation items will be posted 30 (thirty) days after the employer receives the citation(s), except in cases of significant public interest. Posted citation items reflect any amendments to citations that are the result of a prompt settlement, which OSHA encourages. Employers and employee representatives will continue to receive copies of the citation(s) upon issuance.

Inspection: 1571302.015 - Tungsten Strawberry Lodge Llc

Inspection Information - Office: Sacramento District Office

Investigation Summary

A portable generator (FIRMAN 3650) was used to charge accessories during power outages. Employee #1 maintained this portable generator. On September 22, 2021, Employee #1 had placed the portable generator in the backyard in a location where it was beneath the edge of the building. An extension cord was used from the generator to the kitchen area. The snowfall on December 13, 2021 had buried the portable generator. After the snowfall, Employee #1 and a coworker unburied the generator, but did not relocate it. Before Christmas, Employee#1 built an A-frame structure out of two pieces of 3 feet by 4 feet plywood to put over the generator in order to keep snow away from the generator. At 1:00 p.m. on January 4, 2022, the coworker went to the kitchen area and plugged flashlights into the power strip to charge the flashlights. The coworker observed that the power strip had no power, but could hear that the generator was running. The coworker looked out of the kitchen's window and saw that snow had filled the hole that was dug 1.5 to 2 weeks ago to unbury the generator. The coworker assumed that the snow falling on the generator might have unplugged the extension cord. The coworker decided to shovel the snow around the generator to plug in the extension cord. The coworker dug the snow for about 2.5 hours and saw that the plywood had fallen horizontally facing the building. The coworker cleared the snow from the top of the plywood. The coworker lifted the plywood and saw Employee #1 underneath the plywood. Employee #1 was on the generator, with his head facing toward the building, in a kneeling position and stiff. 911 was called, and Employee #1 was pronounced dead at the scene. Employee #1 sustained fatal injury due to being pinned in between plywood and a portable generator when the snow fell from a roof top on the plywood and Employee #1 remained under the snow approximately 3-4 hours while the generator was running.

Keywords: Asphyxiated, Falling Object, Gas Generator, Plywood